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Buffy The Vampire Slayer > BTVS - Future
Hell on Earth: Signum - Series 1 by Timan
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Previously on The Night-Hawk . . .

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~ Raleighfield High School library, Raleighfield California ~


Nigel Wincroft was stacking books back on the shelf. He was trying to absorb the recent events that have happened in this seemingly innocent looking town of late when he heard the phone ring in his office. Stopping what he was doing Nigel went and answered it.

“Nigel Wincroft.” He said in a welcome tone

“Nigel,” a familiar voice said on the other end of the line, “It’s Brant Jennings.”

Nigel leaned back in his chair surprised.

“Brant? My goodness it has been a while.”

“Too long old friend how’s the slayer coming along?”

“Fine,” Nigel replied a little disoriented, “Belle’s training is coming along nicely. I’ve heard rumors that you left the council.”

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line.

“Ah . . . Yes that’s true. I had a few issue with some of Rodgers polices but that’s not why I’m calling. An associate of mine recently delivered a relic she wanted to be identified and I was hoping you could help me with it’s.”

“I’ll do my best but it’s hard to give you a concise answer without seeing it.” Nigel replied as he searched his office for a piece of paper and something to write with.

“If you could at least point me in the right direction that would be tremendous helps.”

“Alright go ahead.”

“It’s a stone disk, about the size of a dinner plate; on the top I see variously languages covering its surface. The one’s I recognized instantly were ancient Mayan, Greek, Latin, and Egyptian.

Nigel dropped his pen. Slowly his eyes shifted to the image of the Signum pinned up on his wall. He studied the centerpiece closely.

“Tell me Brant,” he said cautiously, “Does this disk have three animals carved into it?”

“Yes it does.” Brant replied confused

“A wolf, a ram and a hart.”

There was another pause from Brant.

“How do you know this?” he asked

“Do you have the disk in your possession now?” Nigel asked insistently

“Yes I do but . . . “

“Then listen to me very carefully I want you to bring it to me immediately.”

“Why?”

“No time to explain I just need it here in Raleighfield as soon as possible.”

“Alright I’ll organize a currier as soon as . . .”

“No, no curriers, you have to do it.”

“Nigel what’s going on? What is this disk?”

Nigel looked back up at the picture.

“The solution to a very dangerous problem.” He replied seriously


~ Midland Park, Phoenix Arizona ~

Penny Whitfield’s cell began to ring. She pulled it out of her pocket and answered it.

“Hello?”

“Penny? Brant here, listen, I have identified what the disk you stole from the chamber is.”

“So what is it?” she asked

“It’s called the Signum Key,” Brant explained, “It’s part of a bigger relic buried in Raleighfield. I’m delivering it to my colleague tonight.”

Penny stopped and looked worried.

“What? Why?”

“Apparently the Signum key is part of some plot to end the world and he needs it to prevent it.”


~ The Abandoned Mansion, Phoenix Arizona ~

“Wait!” Brant said in pain, “I need you to do something for me.”

“What?”

Brant winced in pain.

“Take the key to Raleighfield.”

“Why is this key so important? I know you said that It’s gonna stop something but what does it do?”

“I don’t know but my colleague, Nigel Wincroft, does. You need to get it to him.”

“No way,” Brett said from the background, “This key is like a bad luck charm all this weird stuff keeps happening around it, I mean, What’s going to stop it from being stolen from this Nigel guy?”

Brant smiled at them.

“I wouldn’t worry about that,” Brant explained, “between the slayer and The Divine One it’s going to be very well . . .”

“What?” Penny

Brant looked over to see Penny’s shocked expression. He scanned his last sentence and found the flaw. Penny moved in next to Brant. She had a reserved hopefulness in her eyes.

“The Divine One? Rebecca’s alive?”

Brant sighed heavily.

“Yes,” Brant replied, “She and her husband moved to Raleighfield about three months ago.”

Penny’s jaw dropped. She stumbled back and fell into a chair.

“A-Alex is alive?” she asked in shock, “Why didn’t you tell me?”

* * * * * * * * * *

“We need to find out where this Nigel guy is.” Penny said seriously

“No good Pen,” The Wanderer replied, “the last thing Brant told me before he passed out was where he hid the key.”

“What’s the plan captain?” Brett asked

Penny stared down at the unconscious Brant. There was only one choice.

“We do what Brant told us to do,” Penny said, “Guys pack a bag. Once we drop Brant off at the hospital and I get the key we’re heading to Raleighfield.”

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~ Heatherview Graveyard, Raleighfield California – 4 days later ~


“I’m not sure I can do this.” Belle said nervously

Rebecca smiled at put her arm around her.

“You’re ready Belle,” she said in a reassuring tone, “There’s not much else I can teach you. You’re ready to go solo.”

Belle stared through the gates of the graveyard uncertain. This would be the first time she had patrolled alone. Rebecca looked at her seriously.

“You are one of the most competent and skilled slayers I have ever worked with. I have no doubt that you can do this on your own. Listen, I’ll be at Grace’s Café when you’re finished here come by we’ll have a coffee and talk about what happened okay?”

Belle took a deep breath.

“Okay but if I die you are so haunted!” she replied

Rebecca laughed and patted her on the shoulder. Belle psyched herself up and walked in. Belle clutched onto her stake tightly as she cautiously walked between the tombstones. She was focused but still very nervous. In the past Belle had the reassuring thought that, if something went wrong, Rebecca was always there to help her but this time she was on her own. Out of the corner of her eye belle noticed a small bird land on one of the tombstone. This didn’t concern her for at that moment belle sensed movement.

“Where are you going pretty lady?” a male voice said from the side

belle turned sharply to see a vampire sitting casually on one of the tombstones. He looked like he was in his early twenties but, with vampires you could never tell.

“It’s a nice night felt like a walk.”

“Didn’t know the graveyard was so popular.”

Belle shrugged.

“I wanted to be alone.”

The vampire smiled menacingly.

“That you are.” He replied

suddenly from out of nowhere four other the vampires swooped out and grabbed her. From behind the original vampire two other vamps appeared walking up casually next to him.

“Can we eat her yet?” one of them asked

“Not yet we need to find more.” The lead vamp replied

“Boss!” one of the four vamps holding belle yelled, “looks what I found!”

he tosses the stake over to the lead vampire who smiled as it

“Well looks like we snagged ourselves the slayer.”

The lead vamp leaned in menacingly.

“You know what I’m going to do now slayer?” he asked

belle cringed at him.

“Eww . . . Floss?”

“No. I’m going to do something much worse”

There was an unusual pause. Belle looked at him strangely.

“Which is?”

the lead vamp didn’t reply. Instead he looked down to his chest where the arrowhead was sticking out of his chest. The lead vamp had just enough time to look back in surprise before he crumbled into dust. Once the cloud cleared belle noticed the Woman standing a few meters behind where he was. She lowered her bow slowly as she stared at the rest of the vamp through her masked eyes.

She was short with long fire red hair that reached down her shoulders. Her cobalt blue eyes stared out of the ornate mask she wore. She had on tight purple leather top, purple leather pants, and knee high boots. She was also wearing and ankle length deep purple leather jacket which had an ornate Night-Hawk, wings out stretched, stitched onto the back

“Who the hell is that?” one of the vamps asked

The woman collapsed her bow and re-strapped it to her leg. She reached in behind he jacket and pulled out two stakes. She charged at the six vampires. The woman knocked Belle out of the way then spun kicked one of the vampires in the face. She punched a second in the jaw as she plunged one of the stakes into the chest of the third. One of the vamps tried to sneak up behind her but the woman kicked back sending him flying into a tombstone.

Before the others could react she trusted her arms out staking two more of the vamps. She turned to face the last three vamps and smiled at them. The vamps looked at each other.

“Screw this.” One of them said

the last three turned and ran. The woman drew out her bow again and loaded it up with three arrows. Taking careful aim she fired. They hit dusting the last three vamps Simultaneously. The woman smiled to herself at a job well down the walked over to Belle.

“You okay.” She asked

“Yeah,” belle replied miserably, “who the hell are you?”

“Call me Nighthawk.” The woman replied

“Great, Nighthawk, Thanks a lot!” Belle replied in an annoyed tone, “I had everything under control before you showed up!”

Nighthawk looked at Belle confused as the slayer slumped on a nearby tombstone

“’Scuse me?” she asked

“I was about to dust them myself!”

Suddenly Nighthawk realized what was going on. She shifted awkwardly on the spot.

“Oh . . . you’re the slayer aren’t you?”

Belle waved her stake in front of Nighthawk eyes.

“What gave it away?” she asked sarcastically

Nighthawk laughed awkwardly.

“Listen I’m really sorry about . . .”

“Oh good, bird woman’s sorry, that’ll bring back the vamps.”

The both of them went silent for a moment before Nighthawk began to edge away slowly.

“I’m gonna go,” she said abruptly, “I’ll see you around.”

“I hope not,” Belle replied angrily,” oh and by the way the matrix convention isn’t until next month!”

Nighthawk smiled at her weakly at Belle before she turned and left. While she was storming out of the graveyard the small bird that was sitting on the side flew over and landed on her shoulder. It chirped and Nighthawk shot it a look.

“Yeah I know I screwed up I don’t need you reminding me!” She said in an annoyed tone.


~ Grace’s Café, Raleighfield California ~

Rebecca waited patiently at one of the tables that sat outside the café. She smiled as she saw Belle walk up. Belle sat down across from Rebecca and put her chin on her arms.

“So how did it go?” Rebecca asked

“Don’t wanna talk about it.” Belle replied angrily





~ Motel room, Raleighfield California – 30 minutes later ~

Brett carpenter, Megan Galloway and the old man only known as The Wanderer slowly unpacked their things. Brett stood in the middle of the rooms with his hands out to his side and a very bewildered look on his face.

“Anybody else feel the weird vibe in this town?” he said curious

“I kinda like it,” Megan replied, “It’s like twenty for hour caffeine.”

Just then the front door opened. Penny Whitfield walked in awkwardly. Brett smiled at her and kissed her lightly.

“Hey how did scouting go?” he asked

“Well,” Penny replied, “ No sign of Nigel but I got to meet the slayer.”

“You saw Belle? How is she?” Megan asked excitedly

“I think she’s mad at me for interrupting her.”

Megan smirked at the red head.

“It’s okay give it a couple of days and she’ll forget about it.”

“So no word on where this Nigel Wincroft is?” The Wanderer asked

“Nope,” Penny replied as she sat down on one of the beds, “And we’re running out of options.”

“Don’t worry Pen we’ll find him.” The old man replied

“I just wish I knew where to start.” Penny commented despondently

“Oh my god.” Brett said in shock, “what did you just say?”

Penny looked over to her boyfriend confused.

“What?” she asked

“Just then what did you just say?”

“I just wish I knew where to start?” Penny replied curiously

Brett reached into his back pocket. He pulled out the envelope that Heidi handed him five days ago. This couldn’t be a coincidence. He double-checked the sentence written on the back of the envelope and sure enough it was the sentence Penny just said.

“Hey you know how all this weird stuff started to happen ever since we found that key thing.”

“Yeah?” Penny replied

“This is for you.” Brett replied handing over the envelope

Confused Penny opened the envelope and read the letter inside. This made her even more confused. Megan joined her.

“What is it?” she asked

“We have a time and place to find Nigel.” Penny replied curiously, “Where did you get this?”

“From that weird teenager who warned you about Brant’s attack.” Brett replied, “she also told me to tell you that they miss you and want you back. Given what Brant told us I think we know who she’s talking about.”

Penny couldn’t help but feel a little excited and nervous. Now having an address for Nigel they can deliver the key and then she could set about trying to find her bother and sister in law who she just discovered were alive.

“Everybody get some sleep we’ll check this place out in the morning.” She said seriously

“Wait, shouldn’t we find out what this place is first?” Brett asked, “They might not like us walking in off the street.”

Penny gave him a look.

“It doesn’t sound like any place big I’m sure we can blend in.” she replied.



~ Raleighfield High School, Raleighfield California – the next day ~



The four of them stood across from the main school building confused

“Oh yeah Pen we’ll blend in real well here.” Brett said sarcastically.

“You sure this is the address on the letter Penny?” The Wanderer asked

“Positive,” Penny replied

“Maybe the weird teenager made a mistake.” Megan commented

“She’s been right so far. Why lead us down the wrong track now.”

“Well this leaves me out,” The Wanderer said, “Think I’ll make too much of a presence in this place. I’ll go look around the town see what I can find out.”

“Good idea,” Penny replied, “Brett, Megan look around the school see if there’s any other reason why we were sent here.”

“Got it sexy.” Brett replied

Penny looked at him and brant smirked

“Still gotta work on that name thing,” Brett replied amused, “Anyway what are you going to do?”

Penny strapped the disk onto her back and looked at the Night-Hawk sitting on her shoulder.

“Me and hope are going to make one of our famous entrances."



“So you think something went wrong with the patrol last night” Nigel asked seriously

Rebecca sighed.

“I think so but Belle didn’t want to talk about it,” she replied, “I don’t know it just felt like she was disappointed about something.”

The watcher smiled at the Divine One.

“I’m sure it was just first time nerves getting the better of her.”

“I hope so. Belle has come along way I’d hate to see one failure break her spirit. Anyway what are you so worried about?”

Nigel returned to his research. He picked up the sketch of the Signum and showed Rebecca.

“I received a call a couple of days ago by a former watcher by the name of Brant Jennings. He told me that that he had found a piece of the Signum.”

Rebecca became more alert. She moved in closer to him.

“Which part?” she asked

“The Signum Key,” Nigel explained, “It’s the small disk that resides in the center of the Signum. He was supposed to be delivering it himself but I haven’t heard from him since. I fear that somebody might have gotten to him first.”

“Somebody like a group of small time evil lawyers?”

Nigel walked back around the table and leaned against it.

“That was my first thought yes?” he replied

“Where was it coming from?” Rebecca asked

“Los Angeles.”

“Okay I’ll call angel see if he can find out what happened to him.”

“Hurry Rebecca,” Nigel replied, “We can’t afford to lose the advantage we just gained.”

Rebecca looked at him curiously.

“What advantage?”

Nigel looked at Rebecca with intense seriousness.

“If we are in position of the Signum key we win.”



Nolan was studying in the cafeteria when Heidi arrived. He looked up at her in surprise.

“Hey you’re back.” He said happily, “What happened to you the last couple of days?”

“I was busy.” She replied

“Doing what?”

Heidi smiled to herself again.

“O-organizing the reunion.”

Nolan smiled at her and put his hand on her shoulder

“You know there’s no shame in being sick. I’d wear it like a badge of honor.”

Heidi giggled at him as he went back to studying. Suddenly a question popped into his head.

“Wait a second, what reunion?”


Nigel searched the stacks for the book he was looking for. When he returned to the table he was surprised to find a small bird sitting on it. Curiously he places his books on the table and bent down to examine it. The bird didn’t seem alarms that he was looking at it which made the librarian curious.

“Nigel Wincroft?” a female voice asked from behind him

Nigel leaped back in shock knocking some books off the shelf. He looked over to see a masked woman staring at him intently.

“What do you want from me?” he asked as he slowly edged himself away

The Woman motioned him to calm down

“Easy I’m not here to hurt you,” she said, “My name is Nighthawk. Brant sent me.”

Nigel looked at the woman curiously. With an air of caution he walked up to the table.

“Brant Jennings?”

“That’s right I’m supposed to give you this . . .”

Nighthawk pulled out the stone disk from the bag strapped to her back. She placed it carefully on the table.

“ . . . He said that you need it to stop some apocalypse.”

Nigel hurried back to the table and sat down. He examined the disk closely to make certain that it is what it is.

“Oh my lord it is the key.” He said in relief

“Listen, not to sound ungrateful or anything but this disk has caused me a lot of trouble so if you don’t mind can you tell me what the heck does this thing do?”

Nigel picked up the sketch of the Signum and laid it down on top of the stone disk.

“The Signum key is the most important part of the Signum. It acts as a bind for all three seals, unifying their power, so it will be strong enough to reawaken the Trinity.”

Nighthawk looked at the watcher in shock.

“Whoa wait you don’t mean the Trinity do you? As in the senior partners for Wolfram and Hart?”

“Now you see why this was so urgent.”

Nighthawk leaned against one of the tables.

“That explains why the chamber wanted it.” She said

“The who?” Nigel asked curiously

Nighthawk waved off the comment.

“Long story,” she replied, “While I’m hear maybe you could help me.”

“I’ll see what I can do. What I can do what do you need?”

“I’m trying to find the Divine One.”

Nigel looked at Nighthawk curiously.

“The Divine One? For what purpose?”

“It’s kinda personal. Do you know where she is?”

“Yes you passed her office on the way to the library.”

This was getting even stranger for Nighthawk. First the letters then the warning now the delivery a few doors down from her sister in law. The champion was now convinced that this wasn’t just coincidence someone was planning this. Nigel noted the touch of anxiousness in Nighthawk’s eyes.

“Do . . .do you think she would be there now?” Nighthawk asked

They were both started by the sound of the library door closing. Nighthawk looked over to see Rebecca glaring at her. She failed at covering up her shock.

“Yes I’m there but you have to make an appointment like everyone else.” Rebecca replied as she walked up to the pair, “sorry for the interruption Nigel I forgot my diary. So who’s your masked friend?”

“Rebecca Whitfield meet Nighthawk. She delivered the Signum Key.”

Rebecca looked down at the stone disk all the while aware of the masked woman staring at her.

“So this is the key huh,” she replied

“Yeah,” Nighthawk replied trying to hide the anxiousness in her voice, “Brant got himself into a little trouble over it.”

Rebecca stopped moving. She knew that voice too well. Slowly she turned to look at the masked woman closely. This was all she needed to do to recognize the woman underneath.

“Penny?” Rebecca asked softly, “Is it . . .I mean . . . are you?”

Nighthawk nodded as she covered her mouth in shock. Rebecca dropped the diary.

“Oh my god.” She exclaimed, “oh my god!”

Nigel looked at the both of them confused.

“I just missed something didn’t I?” he asked

“Nigel,” Rebecca replied, “I want you to meet my sister in law Penny Whitfield.”


Down in the hallways of Raleighfield High School Megan and Brett tried to wander around as unsuspicious as possible.

“So what are we looking for exactly?” Brett asked

Megan shrugged

“I don’t know something weird I guess.” She replied

“Well if we’re looking for something weird maybe we should get Pen to bring the key back.”

Megan laughed.

“How is she? After the news I mean.”

Brett shook his head slowly.

“I think she took the news of her family being alive a lot harder the she did when she found them dead. It’s just hard to tell with her.”

“I fell so bad for her,” Megan replied, “I can’t even imagine what she’s been through.”

They both arrived at the entrance to the cafeteria and looked in. Megan recognized two of the students and smirked to herself.

“You go catch up with Pen in the library I’ll be with you later.”

Brett looked at her confused.

“What are you going to do?” he asked

“Annoy my cousins.” She mused


Belle sat miserably at the table. Across from her Nolan stared at her strangely

“Okay you’ve been miserable all day,” he said, “stop it!”

Belle shot him a look

“Way to comfort you’re sister Nolan.” She replied sarcastically

“Hey I’m not the one in the mood here.” He replied

Belle was about to reply but instead she slumped back down on the table.

“Now I know there’s something wrong,” Nolan replied, “You would have hit me by now.”

“Maybe she realized how much of a dork you are and decided not to bother.” Megan said from behind him

Nolan and belle looked over to Megan in surprise. Megan smiled back at them.

“Meg?” Nolan asked, “What are you doing here?”

“That’s . . . kinda hard to explain.” Megan replied

“What happened to your arm?”

“Also hard to explain.”

Nolan looked at his cousin curiously.

“Is there anything easy to explain?”

“You’re still a geek?” Megan smirked

“What do you mean still?” Belle replied

Both the girls laughed. Nolan glared at the both of them.

“Okay you both suck!” he replied

Megan sat down next to Nolan and gave Belle a look.

“So . . . Anything interesting happen to you recently?” she asked

“No . . . “ Belle replied anxiously, “Nothing I can think of.”

“Really? Here’s me thinking you became the slayer and are now fighting vampires.”

Belle looked at Megan in shock.

“What? How do you know that?”

Now it was Megan’s turn to look awkward

“That’s . . . hard to explain.”


Nighthawk and Rebecca hugged tightly. The stress and fear that Nighthawk held for the last two years melted in an instant. Rebecca smiled at her warmly.

“It’s so good to see you,” she said excited, “I never thought I would see you again.”

“I thought you were dead.” Nighthawk replied

“What happened? How did you survive the plane crash?”

Nighthawk looked at Rebecca curiously.

“What plane crash?”

Rebecca was about to explain but the sound of the library door opening interrupted her.

“Alright we’ve looked around the school Pen, nothing weird so far and. . . “

Brett stopped as he saw Rebecca, Nighthawk and Nigel staring at him.

“ . . . There’s a lot more people here then I thought there was . . . hey all.”

Nighthawk smirked at him.

“Meet Brett Carpenter master of entrances. “ she joked

Brett shrugged.

“I wouldn’t say master . . .“ he replied

Nighthawk laughed.

“Listen, Rebecca, I have to catch up with everyone else,” she said, “Meet up with you after school?”

“No.” Rebecca replied

“What?”

“You have to go somewhere else first.”

“Where?”

Rebecca smiled at her as she scribbled down an address.

“Raleighfield University. He should be in class at the moment but I don’t think he would mind the visit.”

Suddenly Nighthawk knew who Rebecca was talking about.

“Alex.” She replied softly


~ City Border, Raleighfield California – 1 hour ~


Rorgia stood next to the ‘Welcome to Raleighfield” sign. He smiled to himself. In his hand a small diamond shaped crystal glowed brightly.

“This is the town Thallon,” the red demons said evilly, “This is where Nighthawk traveled to. The locator spell you planted on her before she left the city is working like a charm.”

“What’s the plan sir?” Thalon asked

“Simple,” Rorgia replied, “She took something from us let’s take something from her.”

“What are we taking?” Thallon asked

Rorgia smiled at his partner

“I did a little research before we left Phoenix. It turns out Nighthawk has a bother.”



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